a VX220. anyone tried it?

a VX220. anyone tried it?

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Discussion

s2ooz

Original Poster:

3,005 posts

291 months

Tuesday 27th November 2001
quotequote all
I kinda fancy a vx220, has anyone tried one? hows the handling? I have tried an exige and elise, and cant get in it, so havent driven them, but I think I might be able to drive the VX.
any thoughts folks?

Alistair H.

1,173 posts

278 months

Tuesday 27th November 2001
quotequote all
I drove one at the Jonathan Palmer place at Bruntingthorpe. - very go kart feel. - narrow front tyres caused massive understeer, but I thought it was fun! - doors and build quality was very flimsy, and lets face it, a vauxhall badge on your keyfob hardly cuts the mustard.....

pbrettle

3,280 posts

290 months

Tuesday 27th November 2001
quotequote all
Had a high speed ride in one at the AA Motordrive event at the Millbrook testing gound - excellent handling and utterly superb control of the car. Some say that it is better than an Elise - less extreme and more "chuckable".

Not bad for £22K ish.

jaydee

1,107 posts

276 months

Wednesday 28th November 2001
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I tried a VX at JP's place on a Vauxhall 'jolly.' My size 12s make an Elise tricky and the Vauxhall was the same.
Build quality is certainly light, but better than the Elise and the roof fits (after a fashion.)
The VX has a very odd front tyre choice. I suspect this is to minimise the risk of inexperienced punters punting it into the weeds but greatly decreasing overall grip is a funny way of doing it. Of course, the skinny front tyres ease up the steering weight a lot- ideal for people used to PAS.
Other issues with the VX include residuals (you might want one, but who else will ?,) servicing (there are more garages out there that will happily tackle an Elise and parts availability will be easier,) and badge envy (I know what I'd rather be driving.)
If you want a slightly different alternative to the Elise, what about the Fwd Elan ? Mine was a superb car, reliable, cheap to run, good watertight hood and enough room for my 6'4" mate to fit in. Mine experienced negative depreciation and the only major cost was having the scruffy alloys refinished. The Isuzu lump is unburstable and there were no other Lots Of Trouble Usually Serious issues with the car in three years of ownership, in fact I wish I'd never sold it but grown up life interfered !